Everything going well at Climax, still not a day goes bye when I don’t learn something new or just gain more experience in what I’m doing. More recently I have started going out more with my friends at work (yer a social life), it’s been difficult to adjust to not having my wife around everyday.. since my wife has been living in Spain and now gone back to Japan, it made me realise she was also my best friend. I used to come home from university knowing she was there and that would make me happy every time to see her face.In an effort to make myself happier here in Portsmouth I started going badminton and even roller blading as well with some of my Climax friends! it always makes me feel good to be in the company of others and  have a good time. I really like badminton now and roller blading has always been a hobby of mine:-)

I might not know loads of people but who needs a lot of friends when you can have a few really good ones, especially one friend who’s company I really enjoy:)Just 3 weeks ago I also passed my motorcycle test! hai! I was really happy about this and today I tried driving my wifes motorcycle on the road for the first time… I was a bit slow at starting off and the sound of the engine goes up and down up and down up and down….> I think I attracted many peoples attention sadly. Made me nervous but hey’ I thought to myself it was my first time on this motorcycle and needed to practice ‘so stop watching me’ I thought lol or maybe it was the very stylish motorcycle I was driving ha ha ha. > it is:)

My taste in music has also taken quite a turn recently, okay used to listen to alot of world music but I never imagined I would get so in metal again! It started off with Metallica, but more recently I started listening to some completly new bands, Wintersun, Sonata Artica and my favourite recent band Firewind. Just when I thought that was enough a friend at work also sent me a few Dimmu Borgir albums and I got hooked on that straight away! love head banging to The Serpentine offering!!!!!! > not in the office lol Someone suggested I get some guitar lesson especially how I enjoy this music so much recently. I will think about it! Different music completely but another friend also sent me some Taiwanese music, the artist is called Angela Zhang and I really love her voice. I listen to her music all the time at work  It always leaves me with a happy feeling > I try singing it sometimes but I think it sounds completely wrong! ha ha.

Not much else to report, really proud of my brother in Afghanistan at the moment (never thought I would say what I just did) he took I while to find what he wanted to do with himself, when he wanted to join the army of course there were not many rejections at the time > we needed to let him do what he wants so to speak. It only hit us more recently when we got a phone call from him and he said how he shot at someone in the battle over there. That was a scary phone call! He is 2 years yonger than me, he might be twice my size and weight lol but hey he’s actually shooting people for real over there, the closest I will get to a gun will probably be creating one in Maya lol scary stuff… but do your best over there is what I normally say to him, don’t want to over do it ya know.

Everyone else seems to be keeping it real, younger brother and mum doing fine in Ireland, I miss them but not so much to be honest. I am living alone and independant so don’t need to have them near me or anything, but like to see them at least once or twice a year. Especially christmas time.

Anyways, said to myself I should uplaod a new blog and I think I have accomplished that so i’m signing out know.  I will update a new blog sometime, no idea when but when something interesting happens again!

Keep it real people,

What a chaotic week it has been…. I contacted a company in the UK, who are based in Portsmouth, known as Climax Group. The position I applied for is “Junior Level Designer” and here is the story of the week long graphic test and interview which took place.

The graphic test was not so bad, it consisted of 2 question I could answer quite comfortably, a written piece which had to accompany a level designed and illustrated, finally a 3D model of the model created in Maya. The model only had to be greyboxed which was nice along with wireframes, and the illustrated piece was a Photoshop piece showing text and information about the level being made.

The interview went really well though in my opinion, the 2 people who interviewed me were very friendly and considerate knowing that I was a recent graduate who wouldn’t know all of the ropes at this stage in my career. 

I was mainly asked questions relating specifically towards the position such as, “what games do you like” “which is your favorite” “why and explain a level section you liked about that game” “why do you think that section of the level was successful”. 

Luckily, I was able to answer all of the questions fully and to a level I felt comfortable with and they did not pressure me to hurry or explain very in depth.

I had the chance to meet the other 2 Junior Level designers I will be working with, who seem to be really nice guys, and gave me a worried look when I found a glitch in the level they were designing lol, I have a bad habit of finding bugs quickly and during interviews. In the past I have crashed an interviewers laptop, and caused hardware problems after just touching a mouse ha ha.

The studio was very large and over looking Portsmouth Harbor with an OC feel to it, the sun sets through the huge glass window which acts as a wall. Everyone seemed relaxed but knew exactly what they were doing, the room was light and airy and I felt this is the kind of place I would like to see myself in.

At the moment I am waiting for a phone call Monday 8th september with a confirmation of my position with a start date and about a relocation package they are setting up for me.

My wife is being more than supportive “thank god” to relocate herself with me despite having numerous job offers in Norwich we have both worked so hard on getting for her for the last year+. At times I feel let I am taking her opportunities from her but she is urging me to take this job and she will have more opportunities living closer to London. If you are single, living with parents, move out + think lucky that you can move out of your parents house as easy as pie !!. I was asked if I lived with parents, they said the reason for asking is that they feel more inclined to hire someone who is independent and can cope without living with parents. My box ticked !

Right now the priority is to contact a few people to them know about my departure, sadly it means canceling some work I had lined up but I will pass these jobs onto friends I feel may benefit the most.

I am really excited and a little nervous about the job but at the same time I feel it is the beginning of a long career which I want to pursue for the future of my life. Working with Climax I feel with give me huge opportunities for the future and in return I will give what I can and make sure other people understand what they must do to pursue a similar career path.

Thats all for now, keep it real.

To change the subject, lately I have just finished a test for a company in London. They seem like really nice people to work for and I have my heart set on an interview with them. I discovered an interview is the first thing to aim for as some companies will not even reply at all. It was for the position “Junior Level Designer” which was really fun to do and interesting to try out. I managed to gain a few extra skills such as how to illustrate a level and present my ideas and I even started drawing with a pencil which was a past time of mine. 

At the moment I am currently searching the internet about various job hunting websites and when a new task arrives for my future position, I add it to my list. For example; last night I noticed a new post in south London for an Environment Artist, naturally I clicked the link and read the requirements. 

Vehicles’ particles’ characters’ props’ lighting’ rendering’ 

oh my god is what I said ! (my wife turned and said what are you complaining about Ryry ?). The list seems to be ever growing about what I am expected to do as a 3D Artist, and each time I finish one job, another is added. Although, this may seem daunting, I feel a list of things to do  is somewhat better than a blank list, so I make a plan and start planning which is most important with a smile

Well, I am off now, I currently have an environment in development “NYC: Broadway” it is my latest project and very much needed to demonstrate my latest skills for my profession. I will keep you posted on my next fun packed week of e-mails and 3D work.

Thanks